Hertl looking forward to facing Jagr across the ice, Couture on Wingels joining the line and Nieto’s first game as healthy scratch

SAN JOSE – First, a look ahead to New Jersey, then maybe we’ll look back at that 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I know I’ve written a lot about Tomas Hertl lately, but had to do it one more time with the Devils coming to town. Jaromir Jagr was Hertl’s childhood idol and the Sharks rookie has been looking forward to facing him in the NHL forever.

The two have faced each other twice before in the Czech Extraligia, when Jagr played for his onetime team during the NHL lockout last season. That and more on the connection between the two is in the online story now available here .

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The Devils, by the way, have overcome a horrid start and are 6-1-1 in their last eight games, including a 2-1 OT win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on Thursday night.

****Tommy Wingels didn’t take long to find a new home when Brent Burns got healthy, landing on Logan Couture’s line and firing two into the Tampa Bay net to help stake the Sharks to an early, almost comfortable lead over the Lightning after two periods.

Wingels did play some last season with Couture, so there was some familiarity.

“Yeah, I thought we played pretty well,” Couture said after Friday’s practice. “Patty and Tommy are skaters. We moved pucks, chased them down, and Patty and Tommy were able to find some soft spots and score some goals.”

A lighter than usual stretch of the schedule will give that line some time to build chemistry, though Couture said that generally happens in game conditions, not practices.

“You’re really got to play games to build chemistry with players, I find, to find where they go and how they play,” Couture said. “Tommy is an easy guy to play with. He’s a smart player with a good shot. If he finds open ice, which he’s learned to do the last couple games this year, he’s learned how to find spots where he can use his shot and score some goals.”

Marleau also scored against the Lightning, giving the line three goals while also having the defensive responsibility to shut down Tampa Bay’s top scoring line featuring Martin St. Louis.

“We’ve faced the top line from every team every single night, so I think we’re getting used to it now,” Couture said. “It’s nice to have a good offensive night when you’re going against their best defensive guys.”

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****Sharks rookie Matt Nieto was a health scratch against the Lightning after going without a point in his last seven games and only one assist in his last 12.

“It’s a tough league to break into. In Matty’s case, he had a little bit of a break when he injured himself, but this is the first one where he actually had an opportunity to sit back and watch,” McLellan said of his first-year pro.

“Coaches say it all the time, it’s sometimes good to step back and take a look at the game and see where individuals are successful. You watch a guy like Patrick Marleau last night skate and that’s what Matty Nieto does. Hopefully he puts himself in those shoes and it’ll be a good experience for him.

“We don’t think any less of him because he came out of the lineup,” McLellan said. “It’s just part of the growth process.”

Nieto recognized that he is still learning the ropes in the NHL, and said part of the problem is mental.

“I think ever since my hand injury, my confidence wasn’t the same,” Nieto said. “I get my confidence from moving my feet so I think I have to get back to that, getting in on pucks, creating space, and things like that.”

Nieto credited linemates Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels with encouraging him through the dry spell. His lineup spot became more tenuous once other players got healthy, but Nieto wouldn’t use that excuse for being scratched.

“I think if I was playing like I was in the beginning of the season, I’d have a better chance of being in the lineup, for sure,” Nieto said.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

“Jagr will face the Sharks 48 hours after scoring an overtime goal against the Los Angeles Kings that
tied him with Gordie How as the all-time NHL leader in game winners. It also tied him with former linemate Mario Lemieux as the NHL’s ninth-best goal scorer with 690.”

Well, if you came up with Bobby Oar, I’d probably hire a hit man…but nice story. I get a sense that the League’s PR people are watching Hertl as a possible “new face” for promoting the game. He’s creating a buzz.

Tom (fm Quinzee)

And as for Jagr, congrats! That’s some heady company to be in.

GP_hockeyhappens

“The Devils, by the way, have overcome a horrid start and are 6-1-1 in their last eight games,…”

And of course, certain pretenders here will say the Devils are at the bottom of the league. And, if the Sharks win the game, the excuse will be: The equipment guy has a headache, Sharks catering supplied stale bread sticks in the visiting team management box, etc. And if you recall the other possible excuse for taking credit away from the Sharks, Devils played 3 in 4, Brodeur is old. I’ll add a new one: they had to play the physical LA Kings prior.

grd22

one of the best players that still play the game,amazing.

Tom (fm Quinzee)

You forgot “if Robbie Ftorek hadn’t been the Devils coach, and the still had Larry Robinson, then the Devils would so crush the Sharks, because everyone knows DW is an idiot and TMac is stupidererer.”

SactoShark

If the NHL is promoting Hertl, the guys at ESPN are getting the message regarding the first quarter of the season and the Calder Trophy.

Not even in the top 4

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Winner: Seth Jones, Nashville Predators

The midseason Calder Trophy pick in two months might feature Chris Kreidermore prominently with the way he's going right now, but for the opening quarter, it has to be Jones. He is leading all NHL rookies with a whopping 24-plus minutes per game while looking like a veteran, not the 19-year-old rookie he is. Wow.

So far, I agree with Hedi as he said this eloquently, Burnside is asleep by the opening FO of a Sharks game.

I am looking forward to seeing Seth Jones play an NHL game. I haven’t as of yet.

dspollak

Tom,
It took a fifth reading before I realized Howe was How. But fixed in revised story. Thanks.

SactoShark

Yeah, actually “aren’t”..I’m a moron.

Its crazy he is not in the conversation

I ask once again, where is Beer League Rocks and his farting dog?

I’m beginning to get worried about that guy

SactoShark

Just wanted to acknowledge that Bakes did a great job on the TV color commentary last night.

I much prefer him over Drew

SactoShark

you have to stop hanging out at those Indian casinos playing Pow Gow

Bob S

The story about Jagr and Hertl seems to have been taken down.

SactoShark

Its another shining example of the Merc’s on-line technical prowess they now want us to pay for

RicciRocks

Good game for the Sharks last night. A tiny lull after they went up 5-0 that a coach would find fault with and as a fan I was pretty happy. Agree that Burns looked out of sync; I think it will take several games for him to get back into stride.

I’m really straining to say this since I’m happy if they trade him but I thought Havlat looked a little better. I saw him take a shot and he had a few good passes. The improvement of Wingels & Sheppard along with pretty consistent effort IMO opinion from Desjardins makes this team deeper.

Lost in last night’s solid effort was Niemo. He had a good game.

Beer League Rocks

I changed my dogs food to senior, not farting much anymore. I’m still around. Thanks for worrying about me. Just been busy and disgus was disgusting me not letting me back in…. But now I’m back. Just like Brent Burns. Look out!!!

Beer League Rocks

Snow Shovel, Are you out there…

MLBSF

You would. Baker is an even bigger homer/pollyanna than Drew. (If that’s even possible). smh

Topcatone

Also praise to Marleau.I’m a frequent critic because of his lack of effort and being “hard” on the puck and his passes, but he really stepped up to what is expected of him against the Bolts.

spooky

i like Bakes over Drew too. But Drew has his good rant moments i realy like.

WI JP

I’m a fan of announcers, in general, who treat the program as a sporting event. So, yes, I enjoy the bit of levity Randy and Drew regularly bring to the broadcast. And, since I am watching the game, I don’t need stolid play by play, w/ a constant droning of exactly what is occurring on the ice.
For me, I guess it comes down to announcers enhancing what should be a fun viewing experience.
GS! JP

Hockeynut

The Devils are 9-13 this is another game the Sharks should win. Any word on who is in the pipes for NJ yet? It will be a huge disappointment not to come away with 2pts. Like the Lightning without Stamkos New Jersey is basically a one line team. The Sharks depth should prove to be the difference.

WI JP

Hope the Sharks are not also over confident.

GP_hockeyhappens

“The Devils, by the way, have overcome a horrid start and are 6-1-1 in
their last eight games, including a 2-1 OT win over the Los Angeles
Kings at Staples Center on Thursday night.”